Emergency preparation in schools: a snapshot of a rural state.

OBJECTIVE: To study emergency preparedness in public schools in a rural state.

METHOD: Questionnaires were mailed to school nurses registered with the State Department of Education. Data collected included school nurse and staff training, school location, emergency equipment available, and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) access.

RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of the surveys were returned after one or two mailings. They report little emergency training for both school nurses and school staff. Emergency equipment available varies widely: oxygen 20%, artificial airways 30%, cervical collars 22%, splints 69%. Equipment was more likely to be available in communities with populations of less than 200,000. Sixty-seven percent of schools activate EMS for a student and 37% for an adult annually. Eighty-four percent of schools have a less than 10-minute EMS response time.

CONCLUSIONS: EMS activation to schools is a common occurrence. Schools are ill prepared to care for this acuity of student or staff as assessed by equipment and emergency training. Schools in smaller communities, however, are better prepared for emergencies.